POLITICAL LIFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23111, 9 August 1938, Page 12

POLITICAL LIFE

ADVICE TO ASPIBANTS HONESTY THE BEST POLICY VISCOUNT SNOWDEN'S VIEWS Much wise advice to aspiring politicians was contained in an article, one of the last from the pen of the late Viscount Snowden, which appeared in the July issue of Rotary. Viscount Snowden described politics as a profession as honourable, for instance, as the practice of law, and said that training was just as necessary as it was for any other important work. In - discussing the expense of Parliamentary candidature and representation, Viscount Snowden said that wealth was no longer essential to a political career, but was still a great advantage. "A man who is looking to a political career should have means beyond his modest allowance as a member of Parliament, for it is quite insufficient to support him in reasonable comfort," ho said. "The insecurity of a political career must be taken into account. It is the only profession which depends for the opportunity to practice it upon the decision of a fickle electorate. What Voters Respect "In my long experience I am convinced that in electioneering honesty is the best policy," Viscount Snowden said. "The voters like a man to be straight, whether they agree with him or not. And if they respect him for his honesty, he is not unlikely to get their votes. "At a general election all sorts of societies send questionnaires to the candidate. An inexperienced candidate, afraid of otherwise losing votes, answers them all in the affirmative, afterward to find, if he is successful, that he has committed himself to vote for and against innumerable measures. He might have avoided that embarrassment by ignoring the questions, for however lie had answered them it would not have gained liim one vote. Good Speaking Not Essential "Is it essential for a candidate to be a good speaker? Not at all. I have been beaten by an opponent who could not utter two consecutive sentences intelligibly. Too great fluency may be a positive disadvantage as a candidate. "It is, of course, desirable that a candidate should be able to state his views clearly and intelligently, and that is enough. I was once addressing a meeting of agricultural workers, and when the applause on my rising had died down, and before I could begin to speak, a big fellow on the front seat shouted out, 'Make it plain, Mister, for we're a lot of ignorant devils.' " The most attractive quality in a politician is sincerity. It will carry a candidate to success at the polls, and will secure for him the ear of the House of Commons." The Value of Modesty The political aspirant who had passed successfully through "the ordeal of a contested election" should, if ho had a becoming modesty, bide his time, Viscount Snowden added. It was interesting to watch how new members reacted to their unfamiliar surroundings. Some members seemed to be quite devoid of nervousness. That was due to a natural conceit and to ignorance of the superior qualities of many of their colleagues. " I have known new members to rush in the first day and address the House of Commons with the air of a schoolmaster lecturing a class of schoolboys," Viscount Snowden continued. "Such members have at the outset ruined their Parliamentary careers. It has been truly said that the House of Commons is always willing to be informed, but it will not tolerate being lectured.

" It is well for a new member to wait a while and listen to the debates. He gets the atmosphere of the House and learns the methods 'and styles of speaking which most appeal to members. Arthur Balfour gave the advice to a j-oung member of his party to sit through all the debates, even the intolerably dull ones, and in time he would feel he was part of the House itself." Only One Road to Success Viscount Snowden added that if a member had been endowed with the gift of fluency, he should "keep a brake upon it," unless he wished to make himself an insufferable bore. A man who was determined to make a success of a political career should not be discouraged because success was slow in coming. It would come only as the reward of hard work and unceasing effort. If a young member showed industry and' capacity, he would attract the notice of his leaders and ministerial office might reasonably be expected in time. " No man can make money out of politics, even if he attains high office," he concludes. " But the Member of Parliament who remains a humble private member, and who conscientiously does his duty, has the consolation of knowing that ho has done his country some service, even if tho ambitions he once entertained of high success have ended in disappointment."